Leader Gino Yevdjevich became a professional musician in his native Sarajevo when he was 16, making a good living playing commercial music. All that changed in 1991, when the war in the former Yugoslavia began. With no money and precious little food or electricity, the local artistic community made art for itself -- and found it well received as locals braved snipers and bombs to get out of their houses.
However, he left for the U.S. in 1994 under the sponsorship of singer Joan Baez and ended up in Seattle starring in a play with music about the Sarajevo conflict, Behind God's Back.
The band Kultur Shock came after the play closed, playing acoustic music in restaurants. Advised by Krist Novoselic (who has his own Croatian roots in the Balkans) to play louder, they began doing so -- and found themselves thrown out of the restaurants.
After a brief hiatus, they returned to play Seattle clubs with guitarist Mario Butkovich, who'd been persuaded to move from his new home in Portland. Brad Houser (New Bohemians, Critters Buggin') took the bass slot, with Amy Denio and Jessica Lurie filling out the horn section.
In 1999, they recorded and self-released Kultur Shock Live in Amerika, which documented the outfit at the first full stage of their development. While the music they played was all traditional, the treatment of it certainly wasn't, with loud electric guitars complementing the twist-and-turn horn lines. It was, Yevdjevich admitted, "a party album," and though often impressive, it didn't do them full justice.
Changes in personnel ensued. Houser left, to be replaced with Masa Kobayashi from Tokyo, and a second guitarist, Bulgarian Val Kiossovski. With that lineup, they began to make their first studio record, along the way signing with Kool Arrow, the label run by Faith No More's Billy Gould, and continuing to play local gigs as well as touring up and down the West Coast. The album, FUCC the I.N.S., appeared in late 2001, followed by Kultura-Diktatura in 2004 and We Came to Take Your Jobs Away in 2006.
In October 2008 Mario Butkovic and Masa Kobayashi left the band and the new line-up included some already known to the band musicians like:
Guy Michael Davis - well known for his amazing bass work with the bands Sage (mid 90s), Guardian Allien and BenJovi, is the new bassist, he plays banjo and bunch of other strange instruments, considering he grew up in Indonesia.
Paris Hurley - a violinist extraordinair substituted for Matty Noble for month and a half during the summer tour '08. In the process of it she became part of the band and was a natural choice for the forthcoming "Integration" album and the touring season.
Amy Denio recorded and toured with the band as a sax and clarinet player on 'Fucc the INS' and 'Kultura-Diktatura' .*
The last album "Integration" is released in 2009.
* from the interview of Val Kiossovski for the Bulgarian online radio Tangra Mega Rock http://radiotangra.com/?page=int&lng=en&id=183
Kultur Shock are:
Gino Srdjan Yevdjevic (Bosnia)- vocals, trumpet, djumbek
Val Kiossovski (Bulgaria) - guitar, vocal
Chris Stromquist (USA) - drums
Guy Davis (Indonesia, USA) - bass, banjo
Matty Noble (USA)- violin
Paris Hurley (USA) - vocal, violin
Amy Denio (USA) - clarinet, saxophone, vocal
Rose
Kultur Shock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said that life is cruel and I'm no longer scared
I believe in power of my thorn
Not afraid of humans anymore
I believe in power of my thorn
Not afraid of humans anymore
Yesterday my world of pain suddenly collapsed
I will never die
Roses, roses at my door
Not afraid of humans anymore
Roses, roses at my door
Not afraid of humans anymore
I believe in power of my thorn
Not afraid of humans anymore
The lyrics to Kultur Shock's song Rose are about transformation and a newfound strength in the face of adversity. The opening lines describe a rose that has blossomed and is no longer afraid of the cruelty of life. The singer then states their belief in the power of the rose's thorn, suggesting that even in vulnerability, one can find protection and strength. The theme of fearlessness is carried throughout the song, with the singer declaring that they are no longer afraid of humans.
The second verse of the song depicts a personal transformation, with the "world of pain" collapsing and the singer looking toward the sun with a newfound sense of hope. The roses at their door serve as a symbolic reminder of this transformation, and the singer repeats the message that they are no longer afraid of humans.
Overall, the lyrics to Rose convey a message of resilience and the power of transformation. By embracing vulnerability and finding strength in it, one can overcome the challenges of life and become fearless in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday my rose opened up and said
The singer is referring to a rose as a metaphor for something in their life that is coming into bloom and breaking free from old fears.
Said that life is cruel and I'm no longer scared
The singer has had a realization that life can be harsh and unforgiving, but they are no longer fearful because they have found inner strength.
I believe in power of my thorn
The singer believes in their own ability to protect themselves, symbolized by the thorns on a rose.
Not afraid of humans anymore
The artist has gained a newfound confidence and fearlessness when facing other people.
Yesterday my world of pain suddenly collapsed
The artist's personal pain and suffering has suddenly lifted and disappeared like a weight being lifted off their shoulders.
I looked straight into the sun and smiled
The singer is choosing to face the bright and positive aspects of life, even in the face of tragedy or difficulty.
I will never die
The singer has a sense of immortality in the symbolic sense, because their inner strength and personal growth will live on even after their physical body has passed.
Roses, roses at my door
The artist has found beauty and positivity in their life, symbolized by the image of roses at their doorstep.
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Duško Čičić
Yesterday my rose opened up and said Said that life is cruel and I'm no longer scared I believe in power of my thorn Not afraid of humans anymore I believe in power of my thorn Not afraid of humans anymore Yesterday my world of pain suddenly collapsed I looked straight into the sun and smiled I will never die Roses, roses at my door Not afraid of humans anymore Roses, roses at my door Not afraid of humans anymore I believe in power of my thorn Not afraid of humans anymore
karen draak
kultur shock in action!!
Radmilo Josipović
Odlično
ladyneurose
ovo može da ubije.
Radmilo Josipović
(5)